Mineshaft – The Cruising Murders

Directed by Jeffrey Schwarz, USA, 84 minutes

This fascinating documentary revisits the controversy surrounding William Friedkin’s 1980 thriller Cruising, starring Al Pacino, which ignited intense protests from the LGBTQ+ community upon its release. Tracing the film’s origins to the real-life murder of journalist Addison Verrill after a visit to Manhattan’s infamous Mineshaft leather bar, the documentary uncovers the rich history of the club, the vibrant pre-AIDS underground gay culture of 1970s New York, and the true story that became eclipsed by one of cinema’s most debated depictions of queer life.